Francesca Barritt

Francesca began learning the violin at the age of 9. She later attended the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Francesca recently graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal College of Music, where she studied with Professor Yossi Zivoni, and has been awarded a scholarship to continue her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in September 2010.


Whilst at the RCM, Francesca was chosen to lead the Symphony and Opera Orchestras. Francesca has been the permanent leader of the Amadeus Orchestra since 2006 and has also performed as leader of The Orion Symphony Orchestra, Syred Sinfonia, City Side Sinfonia, Orchestra of St. Paul's and Hertfordshire Chamber Orchestra. Since graduating Francesca has appeared with the European Union Chamber Orchestra, English Touring Opera and, most recently, in the BBC Proms with the hand-picked John Wilson Orchestra in a performance of MGM film music.


Francesca is a very keen chamber musician. In 2005 she took part in the renowned chamber music master classes at Prussia Cove, Cornwall. More recently she has appeared in festivals in the Lake District and Wales and been lucky enough to receive tuition from such eminent performers as the Chillingirian and Kuss Quartets and Natalie Clein. Francesca is often invited to perform as part of established ensembles and recently appeared as the leader of a large chamber ensemble at the Purcell Room. She is a member of the Del Mar Piano Trio who can be heard performing recitals this year in venues including St. James' Piccadilly, St. Mary's Aylesbury and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. As a soloist, Francesca's numerous performances have included concertos by Bruch, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Mozart and Bach. Last year Francesca gave recitals in St. James' Piccadilly, The National Gallery and for various music societies in Hertfordshire and Herefordshire. This season she will perform Bruch's Scottish Fantasy with Aylesbury Symphony Orchestra and the Lark Ascending in Well's and Exeter Cathedrals and Tring Parish Church.


Francesca is very grateful for the loan of a Sanctus Seraphin violin made in 1737.